by ETX
The universe is poised to die much faster than previously thought, according to new research, but we still have 10 to the power of 78 years before it happens. Photography vjanez / Getty Images©
The universe is poised to die much faster than previously thought, according to new research by Dutch scientists.
But there's no great need to panic. We still have 10 to the power of 78 years before it happens -- that's a one with 78 zeroes.
However, that is a major revision from the previous estimate of 10 to the power of 1,100 years, notes the research paper from Radboud University, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
"The final end of the universe is coming much sooner than expected but fortunately it still takes a very long time," said lead author Heino Falcke.
A trio of scientists at Radboud set out to calculate when the most "durable" celestial bodies -- white dwarf stars -- would eventually die out.
They based their calculations on Hawking radiation, named after celebrated British physicist Stephen Hawking.
Hawking postulated in the mid-1970s that black holes leak radiation, slowly dissolving like aspirin in a glass of water -- giving them a finite lifetime.
The Radboud scientists extended this to other objects in the universe, calculating that the "evaporation time" depends on density.
This enabled them to calculate the theoretical dissolution of the longest-lasting body, the white dwarf.
"By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we can unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation," said co-author Walter van Suijlekom.
Humankind needn't worry too much about the end of the universe. Unless we escape planet Earth, we'll be long gone.
Scientists think that our Sun will be too hot for life in about a billion years, boiling our oceans.
In about eight billion years, our star will eventually expand towards the Earth, finally gobbling up our by-then barren and lifeless planet and condemning it to a fiery death.
Reference
Provided by ETX
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
ETX
Television continues to underrepresent disabled characters
ETX
'Snow cover of Swiss glaciers below average this year: study'
ETX
This AI can help you build anything with Lego
ETX
Europe's Earth-to-Mars interplanetary shuttle project is looking for 'passengers'
The Conversation
'Humans are killing helpful insects in hundreds of ways '− simple steps can reduce the harm
Knowable Magazine
Getting along with grizzly bears
jentestore
Welcome to WAISTLAND
Inven Global
Nongshim RedForce Faces Crucial Clash Against Zeta Division to Secure Playoff Spot in VCT Pacific
ETX
'World energy methane emissions near record high in 2024: IEA'
ETX
'World's richest 10% caused two thirds of global warming: study'
ETX
Climate change made fire conditions twice as likely in South Korea blazes: study
ETX
Climate change takes spice from Indonesia clove farms
Share TodayStory content on social media.
Go Home
Go to channel